Article carrier



March 3, 1964 F. v. KULIG 3,2

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

& 2W2 52 5 L? l I A. PLI l March 3, 1964 F. v. KULIG 3,123,213

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,123,213 ARTICLE CARRIER Francis V. Kulig, Morris, Ill., assignor to Federal Paper Board Company, Inc, Bogota, N..l., a corporation of New York Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,567 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to packaging and is more partic ularly concerned with improvements in cartons or carriers which are adapted to be assembled with a plurality of merchandise containers, such as beverage bottles or cans of the type which have a cone-shaped top terminating at a mouth formingneck portion on which there is a circumferential bead for receiving a crown cap closure member.

It is a general object of the invention to provide improvements in a carton or carrier of the type which is adapted to receive the top portions of a group of cylindrical articles having cone tops, such as beverage cans or bottles, which are closed by crown caps wherein the car ton or carrier and the capped containers are held in connected relation by engagement of portions of the carton or carrier beneath the crimped edges of the crown caps on the containers.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a packaging device for bottles or cans of the type described which is formed from a paperboard blank cut and creased to provide top and bottom walls having registering apertures in row formation for receiving the necks and caps of the containers and inclined side walls connecting the top and bottom walls at the side edges thereof and with the apertures in the top wall extending into the side walls so as to provide for engagement of top edge portions of the side walls resulting from cutting the apertures therein beneath the crimped edges of the caps so as to connect the carrier to the containers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improvements in a carton or carrier for a plurality of cylindrical articles which are arranged in row forming relation and which are each characterized by a generally coneshapedtop terminating in a neck portion closed by a crown cap, which carton is formed from a paperboard blank which is cut, creased and folded to provide top and bottom wall forming panels having registering apertures for receiving the neck portions of the articles, the top wall panel being of less width than the bottom wall panel and the side edges of the top and bottom wall panels being hinged to the top and bottom edges of side wall forming panels which are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, the apertures in the top wall panel each extending into a side wall panel so as to provide an upwardly facing edge abutment which engages beneath a portion of the skirt of the cap of a capped article having its neck portion seated in the aperture while the margin of the top wall panel at the opposite edge of the aperture engages beneath an inner portion of the skirt of the cap so as to connect the carton to the articles in locked relation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the several forms thereof which are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a six article capacity carrier with a full load of beverage bottles which illustrates the principal features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the inside face of a paperboard blank which is cut and scored to provide, when folded and glued up, the carrier shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the carrier of FIGURE 1 in collapsed condition;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a six article capacity carrier embodying a modification of the invention, the carrier being shown in set up empty condition;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the inside face of a paperboard blank which is cut and scored to provide, when folded and glued up, the carrier shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the carrier of FIGURE 7 in folded and collapsed condition;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a carton or carrier for a single row of articles which embodies a further modification of the invention, the carrier being shown in set up, empty condition;

FIGURE 10 is a partial plan view of the inside face of a blank which is cut and scored to produce the carrier shown in FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a partial plan view of the carrier shown in FIGURE 9 in folded and collapsed condition.

The carrier "10 which is shown in FIGURES 1 to 6 is assembled with a group of six capped bottles 11 so as to form therewith a package or carrying unit. The bottles 11, as illustrated, are of a type which has been adopted recently for use in the marketing of beverages such as soft drinks and beer, and which are intended to be discarded and not reused when emptied by the consumer. Each of the bottles 11 comprises a cylindrical body 12 and a generally cone-shaped top 13 terminating at its upper end at a neck portion 14 having a beaded edge at the mouth forming portion on which a crown-type closure cap 15 is held in place by a crimped skirt, the latter having a fluted lower edge which projects outwardly and forms an abutment shoulder or edge facing in the direction of the cylindrical body 12.

The carrier 10 of FIGURE 1 is formed by cutting, creasing and folding a generally rectangular blank 16 which is illustrated in FIGURE 4. The blank do is divided by transversely extending, longitudinally spaced, parallel score lines 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 into a top wall forming panel 23 which extends between the score lines 19 and 23, a pair of side wall forming panels 24 and 25 on opposite sides thereof which extend between the score lines 18, 19 and 2t), 21, respectively, and a pair of bottom wall forming panels 26 and 27 which extend between the score lines 17, 18 and 21, 22, respectively. An end portion 28 of the blank which extends between the tranverse score line 22 and the one end edge 34} of the blank is subdivided by a transverse score line 31 which is parallel with the score line 22 into a longitudinal partition panel 32 and a glue flap 33. Slots 34 and 35 are cut in the longitudinal partition panel 32 and the glue flap 33 which extend diagonally toward the center of the blank in converging relation for a purpose which will be described. At the opposite end of the blank the end portion 36 which extends between the transverse score line 17 and the end edge 37 of the blank constitutes a combination longitudinal partition reinforcing panel and glue flap. Slots 38 and 40 are cut in this panel 26 which extend diagonally toward the center of the blank and which are positioned to register with the slots 34 and 35 in the longitudinal partition panel 32 at the other end of the blank when the panels 32 and 36 are connected in superimposed relation in the assembled form of the carrier.

The top wall forming panel 23 is provided with two rows of identical cap accommodating cut outs 41 which extend in spaced relation along the top edge forming score lines '19 and 20. Each of the apertures or cut outs 41 is of generally circular or oval configuration with the outside edge being intersected by the score line 19 or 20 and with a portion of the out which extends into the adjacent side wall panel being in the form of a rectangle so as to provide an abutment forming edge 43 which is parallel with the transverse score lines and of substantial length. A pair of finger holes 44 are formed in the center of the blank 23 by transversely spaced, generally C-shaped cuts 45 which leave tabs 46, with the latter being hinged on longitudinally extending, parallel score lines 47. Perforation lines 48 extend radially from the finger holes 44 in the direction of each of the cap receiving apertures 41 so as to facilitate tearing of the panel 23 when it is desired to unlock the bottles 11 and separate them from the carrier.

The bottom Wall forming panels 26 and 27 are subdivided by transversely extending hinge forming score lines 50 and 51 which are parallel with and spaced a predetermined distance from score lines 17 and 22 at the edges of the panels 26 and 27. The panels 26 and 27 are also provided with identical cut outs 52 which are spaced transversely along the score lines 50 and 51 and which are of generally circular configuration. The cut outs 52 are formed by generally C-shaped cutting lines which leave tabs 53 adapted to be hinged on score lines 54 spaced a slight distance in wardly of the score lines 50 and 51 and parallel therewith. An inner segment of each tab 54 is removed by cutting on the line 55 leaving an abutment forming straight edge for a purpose which will be described. The cut outs 52, are somewhat larger than the cut outs 41 and are adapted to have the coneshaped tops of the bottles seated therein when the blank is formed into a carrier and the carrier is assembled with the bottles.

The blank 16, when cut and scored as shown in FIG- URE 4, has an adhesive applied to the panels 33 and 36 as indicated on the outside, or bottommost faces as viewed in FIGURE 4, after which the blank is folded to form the carrier. The first folds are on the score lines 21 and 50 so as to bring the end portions of the blank into overlying relation with the adjoining portions thereof. The blank is then folded about the score line 19 so as to bring the adhesive coated surface of the previously folded panel 36 into engagement with the longitudinal partition forming panel 32 as shown in FIGURE which completes the assembly of the carrier in collapsed condition with the top forming panel 23 and the one side wall 25 being in a common plane constituting the bottom face of the collapsed carrier as it appears in FIGURE 5.

The carrier is opened up into tubular form and applied to an assembly of six bottles I I which are arranged in two rows of three each as shown in FIGURE 1, the caps being received in the apertures 41 in the top wall panel 23 and portions of the cone-shaped tops of the bottles being seated in the apertures 52 in the bottom wall panels 26 and 27. The tabs 53 are pushed upwardly by the entry of the bottle tops and automatically engage beneath the top wall forming panel 23 adjacent the inner edges of the apertures 41 which are pulled beneath the skirts of the caps 15, the abutment forming edge portions 43 of each side wall engaging beneath the skirts of the caps at the opposite or outer sides thereof thereby locking the carrier to the bottles and snugly retaining the carrier on the assembled bottles. The tabs 46 may be pressed down into the carrier due to the slots 34 and 35 in he longitudinal partition 32 so as to permit the carrier to be lifted by inserting a thumb and one finger in the finger holes 44. The bottles may be removed or released from the carrier when desired by forcing the caps down through the apertures 41. Since the carrier is designed for single trip use, the top panel 23 may be torn on the lines 48 to facilitate release of the bottle caps from the apertures 41.

A modified form of the carrier 60 is illustrated in FIGURES 6 to 8 which embodies a longitudinal partition structure with a handle forming panel. Since the major portion of the blank 61 (FIGURE 7) for forming this carrier is cut and scored in the same manner as the blank 16, only those portions of the blank which differ a, from the blank 16 will be fully described, other portions thereof which correspond to portions of the blank 16 being indicated by the same numerals primed. Accordingly, at the one end of the blank, the longitudinal partition panel 32' is solid and a handle forming extension panel 62 extends therefrom which is of reduced width, the corners of the blank being cut out with the transverse cuts leaving the edge 63. The handle panel 62 is provided with longitudinally spaced, parallel, transverse score lines 64 and 65, the score line 64 dividing the panel so as to provide a reinforcing strip 66 at the free edge which is adapted to be folded on the line 64 and adhered to the adjoining portions of the panel to provide a two-ply reinforced handle section. Three finger holes 67 are cut in the panel 62 between the score lines 64 and and the latter serves as a hinge to permit folding of the handle panel when the carrier is in use. At the other end of the blank 61 the glue flap 36 is solid, without the slots of blank 16. The bottom wall forming panels 26' and 27 are formed without the transverse score lines which are provided in the corresponding panels in the blank 16. The top wall forming panel 23' has an elongate transverse slot 68 cut in the center thereof which has a length somewhat greater than the handle extension panel 62 so as to permit the handle panel to extend therethrough when the carrier is set up for use. The panel 23 is also scored on the transverse center line at 69 to permit folding of this panel.

In folding and gluing the blank 61 to provide the collapsed carrier which is shown in FIGURE 8, glue is applied on the outside face of the panel 36' and on the inside face of the handle reinforcing strip 66. The strip 66 is folded about the score line 64 on to the adjoining portions of the panel 62 and the panels 62 and 32' are then folded about the score line 22 onto the inside face of the adjoining portions of the blank. The glue flap 36 at the other end of the blank is folded about the score line 17 onto the inside face of adjoining portions of the panel 26' and the blank is then folded about the middle score line 69 in the center of the top wall panel 23' to bring the glue coated face of flap 36 into engagement with the longitudinal partition panel 32, thereby forming the flattened or collapsed carrier as shown in FIGURE 8.

In setting up the carrier for reception of the bottles or like articles, folded edges are moved towards each other which causes the two halves of the panel 23' to move into a common plane with the adjoining side wall forming panels 24 and 25 hinging about the score lines 18, 19' and 20, 21'. The handle panel 62 is guided through the slot 68 in the top wall panel and the bottom Wall forming panels 26 and 27' move toward a common plane so that the carrier opens up in the form of a tube with the apertures 52' in the bottom wall panels 26', 27' aligned with the apertures 41' in the top wall panel 23' so as to receive the capped portions of the bottles in the same manner as described with respect to the form of the carrier shown in FIGURES 1 to 5.

When the carrier of FIGURE 6 is set up and connected to the assembly of bottles, the package unit thus formed may be carried by engaging the fingers in the holes 67 of the handle panel 62, the weight being dis tributed at the sides of the longitudinal partition panel where the edge 63 abuts the bottom face of the top wall panel 23'. To facilitate stacking of the package units the panel 62 may be folded down about the score line 65 so that it does not interfere with the stacking of another packaging unit on the top of the same.

A further modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 9 to 11. The carrier or carton 70 in this form of the invention is adapted to be employed with a single line or row of bottles or similar articles. It is formed from a blank 71 which is cut and scored as illustrated in FIGURE 10. The blank 71 is divided by transversely extending score lines 72, 73, 74 and 75 into a top Wall panel 76, two adjoining side wall forming panels 77 and 78, a bottom wall forming panel 80 adjoining the one side wall panel 78, and a glue flap $1 at the end of the blank. The bottom Wall panel 80 is subdivided by a hinge forming score line 81 which is parallel with and spaced from the score line 75. This panel is also provided with spaced circular apertures 82 of the desired number, depending upon the number of articles to be packaged as a unit. The apertures or holes 82 are of a size to fit over the cone-shaped portion of the articles as indicated in FIGURE 9. The top wall forming panel 76 is provided with aperture 83 which are spaced in accordance with the spacing of the apertures 82 in the bottom wall 80 so as to register therewith when the carton is set up. Each of the apertures has a pair of oppositely disposed curved edges 84 and 85 which are connected at corresponding ends by a pair of oppositely disposed straight edges 86 and 87, the latter being parallel with the score lines 72 and 73 and extending into the adjoining side wall panels 77 and 78 and being spaced apart a distance sufiicient to permit the cap on the article to first pass through the aperture 83 and thereafter to engage beneath the overhanging skirt of the cap as evident in FIGURE 9.

The blank 71 is folded and glued to provide the carton or carrier 70 in collapsed condition as illustrated in FIG- URE 9. An adhesive is applied to the outside face of the glue flap 81 and the blank is then folded about the score lines 73 and 81 to bring the margin of the side wall forming panel 78 into overlapping relation with the glue flap 81. The collapsed carton may be opened up into tubular form to receive the articles by moving the folded edges 73 and 81 towards each other which brings the top and bottom walls 76 and 80 into generally parallel planes with the article receiving apertures or openings 82 and 33 aligned or registered for reception of the tops of the articles so that the caps pass through the openings 83 and the abutment forming edges 86 and 87 are seated beneath the oppositely disposed portions of the skirt of each of the caps.

While particular materials and specific details of con struction have been referred to in describing the forms oi the canton or carrier which are illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that other materials and different structural details may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a plurality of cylindrical articles which are arranged in double row forming relation and which are each characterized by a generally cone-shaped top terminating in a neck portion closed by a crown cap, and a carrier having gripping means for carrying the same attached to the top portions of said articles, said carrier being formed from a paperboard blank which is cut, creased and folded to provide a tube with top and bottom wall forming panels having two rows of registering apertures in which the neck portions of the articles are received, the top wall panel being of less width than the bottom wall panel and the side edges of the top and bottom wall panels being hingedly connected to the top and bottom edges of side wall forming panels which are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, the apertures in the top wall panel each having a dimension transversely of the carrier which is less than the maximum diameter of the cap and each said aperture extending into a side wall panel and providing an upwardly facing abutment edge which is below the plane of the top wall panel and engages beneath an outer portion of the skirt of the cap, and locking tabs cut from the apertures in the bottom wall and hinged upwardly from the edges of the apertures to an upstanding position and having upwardly facing abutment edges which engage beneath the marginal portions of the top wall panel adjacent the inner edges of the caps whereby to connect the carrier to the articles in locked relation.

2. A package as recited in claim 1, and a longitudinal center partition integral with the bottom wall and extending bet-ween the top and bottom wall panels, said partition having a handle forming extension panel and said top wall panel having an elongate slot through which said handle forming extension passes.

3. A package comprising a tubular carrier and a plurality of cylindrical articles which are arranged in double row forming relation and which are each characterized by a generally cone-shaped top terminating in a neck portion closed by a crown-type cap, said canier having gripping means for carrying the same which is positioned on the top portions of the articles and which is formed from a paperboard blank cut, creased and folded to provide rectangular top and bottom wall forming panels having two rows of registering apertures receiving the neck portions of the articles, the top wall being narrower than the bottom wall and the side edges of the top and bottom wall panels being hingedly connected to the top and bottom edges of side wall forming panels which are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward each other, the apertures in the top wall panel each having a dimension transversely of the carrier which is less than the maximum diameter of the cap .and each said aperture extending into a side wall panel and providing an upwardly facing abutment edge which is below the plane of the top wall panel and engages beneath an outer portion of the skirt of the cap, locking tabs cut from the apertures in the bottom wall and hinged upwardly from the edges of the apertures to an upstanding position and having upwardly facing abutment edges which engage beneath the marginal portions of the top wall panel adjacent the inner edges of the caps whereby to connect the carrier to the articles in locked relation, and a longitudinal partition integral with the bottom wall and extending longitudinally of the center of the carrier between the rows of apertures which longitudinal partition is connected to the top wall panel to form a rigid center reinforcing partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,737,326 Toensmeier Mar. 6, 1956 2,823,063 Toensmeier Feb. 11, 1958 2,946,621 Williamson July 26, 1960 3,016,259 Lawrence Jan. 9', 1962 3,038,600 Powell June 12, 1962 

3. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A TUBULAR CARRIER AND A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES WHICH ARE ARRANGED IN DOUBLE ROW FORMING RELATION AND WHICH ARE EACH CHARACTERIZED BY A GENERALLY CONE-SHAPED TOP TERMINATING IN A NECK PORTION CLOSED BY A CROWN-TYPE CAP, SAID CARRIER HAVING GRIPPING MEANS FOR CARRYING THE SAME WHICH IS POSITIONED ON THE TOP PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLES AND WHICH IS FORMED FROM A PAPERBOARD BLANK CUT, CREASED AND FOLDED TO PROVIDE RECTANGULAR TOP AND BOTTOM WALL FORMING PANELS HAVING TWO ROWS OF REGISTERING APERTURES RECEIVING THE NECK PORTIONS OF THE ARTICLES, THE TOP WALL BEING NARROWER THAN THE BOTTOM WALL AND THE SIDE EDGES OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM WALL PANELS BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES OF SIDE WALL FORMING PANELS WHICH ARE INCLINED UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY TOWARD EACH OTHER, THE APERTURES IN THE TOP WALL PANEL EACH HAVING A DIMENSION TRANSVERSELY OF THE CARRIER WHICH IS LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF THE CAP AND EACH SAID APERTURE EXTENDING INTO A SIDE WALL PANEL AND PROVIDING AN UPWARDLY FACING ABUTMENT EDGE WHICH IS BELOW THE PLANE OF THE 